The Kazakhstan Chess Federation has announced the results of the selection process for national chess federations in the Freedom Asian Chess Initiatives (FACI) 2026 project. The application period for the new stage of the initiative, implemented with the support of Freedom Holding Corp., FIDE, and the Asian Chess Federation (ACF), concluded in early January.
Following a comprehensive review of applications, the following countries have been approved as participants of FACI 2026:
- 🇰🇭 Cambodia
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇯🇴 Jordan
- 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan
- 🇳🇵 Nepal
- 🇵🇰 Pakistan
- 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan
The selection was based on compliance with the project criteria and the potential for sustainable chess development in the respective countries.
The FACI project aims to foster at the sustainable development of chess across Asia through strengthening national federations, enhancing professional training standards, and promoting international cooperation. The program includes training camps, educational seminars, and support for participation in international competitions.
In 2025, FACI supported seven national chess federations: Oman, Cambodia, Nepal, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka, Jordan, and Pakistan. The participating countries demonstrated strong sporting results, including prize-winning finishes at international tournaments. Several federations also received grant support to participate in the FIDE World Cadet Chess Championship held in Almaty, providing young players with valuable experience competing at the highest international level.
KazChess warmly congratulate selected federations on becoming part of FACI 2026. May this initiative open new opportunities, and contribute to the continued growth and unity of the Asian chess community.
More detailed information about the FACI project is available in our video feature and on our website.